Sustainability and future economic development

There are three schools on environment protection. The first is based on  the economic and sanitary needs of the human being. This means that environmental legislation and policy frameworks were designed to protect economic and sanitary interest of humans. This school is called anthropocentric school.

 

The second school is eco-centric, based on the importance of looking for preservation and protection of all species and ecosystems.

 

The third school is holistic including all living beings and environment resources as well as their interaction.
 

Scientific progress in the study of Geography helped to expose the dangers posed by unsustainable exploitation of natural resources to human survival. It followed that  the United Nations produced Resolution 37/7 of 28 October 1982 to enforce protection of  any form of life, regardless of its economic and sanitary interest to humans.

 

However, countries such as the United States and China resist the idea of reducing their emissions of poisonous gases to protect their industry/economy. This may be interpreted as the USA and China adherence to the anthropocentric school of environmental protection. This is why no progress has been achieved in the different international negotiation rounds e.g. Kyoto and Rio +, on reduction of industrial gas emissions.

 

The most powerful and most polluting countries of the world  resist the idea of reducing poisonous gas emissions. These emissions adversely affect the ozone layer and cause climate change. It is unlikely that Least Developed Countries (LDC) will comply with emission reduction and enforce environment protection laws.   Moreover, a neoliberal agenda (modernization approach to development) is imposed by the developed countries to LDC. What kind of attitude toward environment protection can be expected from emerging countries, which may embark in industrialization as a form of development? They will probably emulate USA and China.

 

Resources: Ivy de Sousa Abreu & Elda Coelho de Azevedo Bussinguer at: www.derechoycambiosocial.com ISSN:2224-4131. Accessed 9/2/2014

Resources: Frances C. Moore. Toppling the Tripod: Sustainable Development, Constructive Ambiguity, and Environmental Challenge at: www.consiliencejournal.org/index.php/consilience/article/viewFile/.../58. Accessed 9/2/2014‎

Environmental change

There are many definitions of sustainable development but the most quoted is the one coined by the Bruntland Commission, which provides that: "Sustainable Development is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".

The challenge is how to secure economic development without depleting natural resources. How to use resources rationally in order to ensure that these are perpetuated.  The Mozambican Land and Forestry laws are reportedly the best in Africa, but are not enforced. The laws provide for sustainable management of land and forests with mandatory consultation of communities prior to concession of land deeds to developers.  However, these instruments are ignored by the very government officers who are supposed to enforce them. The UNDP report contends that there is progress in the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation. However this assertion is not supported by accurate and reliable data.
This discussion about sustainable environment is unequal. Least developed countries (LDC) like Mozambique talk about basic needs like access to potable water, how to prevent soil erosion and how to deal with natural disasters. However, most environmental problems are caused by developed countries and the level of discussion appear to be beyond the capacity of countries like Mozambique, which lack skills and expertise to engage.
An example is a case when a foreign company (aluminium smelter), requested permission to the Ministry of the Environment to release fumes direct to the air without filters for 6 months. There was an uproars both from the population and local NGOs. But the government authorized this move and the consequences are unknown. Local NGOs did not have scientific arguments to counter government authorization of a "by pass" . The company in question counts for 60% of Mozambique exports and many well to do members of the elite are shareholders in the company. So what progress can be envisaged in such an environment?

Resource: Ministry of Planning & Development  Report on MDG 2010 at www.undp.org.mz. Accessed on 8/2/2014
Resource: Foretry legislation in Moz - Compliance and the impact on forest communities at: www.policy-powertools.org. Accessed on 8/2/2014

Environment change

Introduction to Environmental Change

In Mozambique  both natural and human action have negative effect on the environment. The country is prone to natural disasters e.g. drought and cyclones. Cyclones cause landslides and coastal erosion and drought causes deforestation. Human actions that cause environment degradation are illegal, excessive and unsustainable logging, salinisation of river mouths due to dam construction, construction of houses in protected areas on land dunes along the coast, thus causing severe erosion. In all cities sewage discharges are not treated and pollute the beaches and rivers. There is a need to ratify and domesticate international instruments that provide for sustainable management of the environment, better disaster management policies and penalization of corrupt government officers who permit illegal and unsustainable logging that causes deforestation.

Other causes of environment degradation are alien to Mozambique. This country is not industrialised therefore it is not a major air and water polluter. However, the country still need to engage in the international debate and demand compensation in the form of Aid for the damage caused by the polluters. This Aid would be used o minimize the effects of raising sea water levels that exacerbate coastal erosion.

Lily Chauque
7 Feb 2014